Strengthen the Domestic Violence Laws in America.

WHEREAS: Domestic Violence crosses all socio-economic boundaries, all cultures, and is present in all countries throughout theworld.

It is a known fact that domestic violence effects victimsand children in critical long-term ways. Children learn what they see and become the victims and batterers of the next generation, thus perpetuating the cycles of violence and abuse.

THEREFORE: Unless we fully address the act of partner violence by treating it as a serious offense, we will continue to see a rise in domestic violence worldwide.

WHEREAS: Because Domestic Violence is often treated as a misdemeanor, and misdemeanors are not reported to the NCIC (remaining only on the records of the state in which they occur), a person with a history of domestic assault can go to another state and if he/she batters again, it is treated as a first offense with no previous convictions having any bearing on the case in the new state.

THEREFORE: We the undersigned urge our appointed and elected representatives to pay serious attention to strengthening domestic violence laws and providing greater protection by treating domesticviolence as a serious offense.

We urge you to do all within your power to insure that: 1) a first offense of domestic violence, even if considered a misdemeanor, is filed in all states and not just the state in which it occurred; 2) all previous assaults on record from all states committed by a person who commits domestic violence are taken into consideration when he/she is convicted and sentenced, and; 3) all assaults have a uniform penalty, be they for street assault or domestic violence.4.) Harsher punishments for those that do not here to the court order.5.) Harsher punishments for those that are first time offenders.6.) Harsher punishments for those that kill a fetus(es) instead of the 6 to 12 months jail time.7.) Abusers would have a mandatory check in every night to a probation officer.

8.) Full protection of men, women, pregnant and non, children, and those of the LGBT community.

DV takes on all forms of abuse, beatings, verbal, sexual, emotional, the most horrendous is permanent disability or death of the victim. All victims and their families are left with permanent scars, most invisible, some times the victim never recovers and, no one is ever completely or totally healed. We learn to live with the scars. We are requesting the revision of all federal, state and local statues governing Domestic Violence (DV) been changed from a misdemeanor to a felony crime, Mandating the abuser be incarcerated to the fullest extentof the law.

Mandating the abuser undergo intense therapy until they see how heinous a crime they have committed Mandating restitution for all medical bills, for any damage they have caused Mandating the abuser pay child support Mandating the abusers offenses be known in all states. Please know that it is estimated 4 million American women experience a serious assault by an intimate partner during an average 12-month period. You should be aware of the following facts: 1. Domestic Violence is statistically consistent across racial and ethnic boundaries. 2. 70\% of intamate homicide victims are female. 3. 40 - 60\% of men who abuse women also abuse children. 4. 27 \% of domestic homicide victims were children. 5. During the six months following an episode of domestic violence, 32\% of battered women are victimized again. 6. Past and current victims of domestic violence are over-represented in the welfare population. Themajority of welfare recipients have experienced domestic abuse in their adult lives, and a high percentage are currently abused. 7. 15 -50\% of abused women report interference from their partner with education, training or work. 8. Children live what they learn, abuse becomes their way of life. 9. The general public and local law enforcement agencies do not perceive FV as a crime not that is has grown to the problem it is today. 10. Most local law enforcement agencies do not want to be bothered nor become involved in the horrific crime. 11. Most DV survivors never receive child support, leaving most to depend on welfare, and local agencies to survive. 12. Most DV victims are never the same, some are physically disabled.

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